At the end of a transformational week, UNMC Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, held a forum Friday where he stressed the importance of the University of Nebraska’s move to assume sole governance of Nebraska Medicine.
He discussed the meeting held Wednesday in which University of President Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, briefed and took questions from an audience of 37 state legislators on the plan, echoing Dr. Gold’s assertion that the proposal – that the university acquire Clarkson Regional Health Services’ 50% ownership stake in Nebraska Medicine – was in the best interest of the people of Nebraska.
Dr. Davies recapped the events of Thursday’s NU Board of Regents meeting, where the regents voted to approve the acquisition, which would result in sole governance of Nebraska Medicine by the University of Nebraska.
“This is not a takeover by the board of regents” he said. “This is a response to Clarkson’s stated intention to withdraw their partnership.”
He thanked UNMC leaders who spoke at the meeting in support of the measure, and he underscored that the board of regents had no desire to interfere in the workings of Nebraska Medicine. Dr. Davies spoke highly of the work of Nebraska Medicine and its board and said Nebraska Medicine would not become a state entity.
Additionally, state cuts cannot impact Nebraska Medicine, he said, since it will not be a state organization and does not receive state money.
Dr. Davies also pointed to the support of CHRS CEO Bill Lydiatt, MD, who spoke at both meetings, saying it was important that the legislators hear from CHRS. He expressed excitement of CRHS’s plan to become a foundation focused on health in Nebraska, and he praised its “historic” $200 million donation to Project Health.
“Project Health is and continues to be a critical part of the future of UNMC and Nebraska Medicine, and the state of Nebraska.”
Dr. Davies noted that the board of regents did not go to CRHS to initiate discussions, but added, there are some opportunities you cannot allow to pass by.
“If I had an opportunity to keep a treasure as important as Nebraska Medicine secure for the future of Nebraska, for the price that has been offered … I think that is the right thing.”
Responding to questions about the future of Clarkson College, he expressed optimism that the college will remain under the new agreement and noted the potential to work together in new ways. “There might be some synergies that we gain together as partners.”
The community can go to the university’s website for more information on the Nebraska Medicine governance issue.
On other topics:
The chancellor congratulated the UNMC Office of Community Engagement, led by Heidi Keeler, PhD, and the entire campus for UNMC being awarded the 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification.
“It’s a tremendous honor,” he said.
He also gave a breakdown of UNMC’s revenue streams, noting that UNMC has not had a structural deficit, and the cuts over the past year were made in preparation for possible cuts in federal research funding.
He reminded the UNMC community that the legislative session now is under way, asking Jeff Kratz, UNMC director of government relations, to offer insights. Kratz, director of government relations at UNMC, noted that Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen’s mid-biennium budget adjustments leave state appropriations for the University of Nebraska unchanged from the budget passed last year.
Kratz said the university was monitoring the legislative process closely and would communicate clearly about any actions that would affect the university or UNMC.
Kratz noted that the governor had requested a $1.15 million cut to the Health Care Cash Fund this year, with a request for eliminating the entire fund, which distributes $15 million annually to UNMC, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Boys Town and Creighton, next year. The fund was established by the Legislature 25 years ago so federal tobacco settlement money could be used to improve the health of Nebraskans through biomedical research.
“This is just a request. We’ll be working very hard with legislators to protect that funding,” Kratz said.
The forum ended with Dr. Davies expressing his appreciation for the hard work of faculty, staff and students, and reiterating again the strong collaboration and commitment UNMC has to working with Nebraska Medicine.